I put on my stockings, take out the nice black skirt with matching blouse that I had recently bought from New York and Company…oh I love that store, price is reasonable too…well, will get to that later, get my kids ready for the day, have a small talk over the breakfast table, however all the while everybody is in a rush and it's all business we are talking , hurry up, lets go, shoes, socks, backpack and squeeze in a nice big hug and kisses too into the program to start the day.
I turn in the keys, accelerate and speed up, albeit keep checking for that flashing light in the rearview and on to the sides just to be sure I can get past without any ticket!!!!
Well,I am ready to dig in for Balance Sheet, Income Statement, credit ratings, ratios, cash flows and month end closing. The day goes by with exchanging smiles from people and having small polite conversation, sending emails after emails and answering questions from people who come up with all kinds grrr!! Well that’s life I think. People chat over coffee break, lunch break; somebody was rude, someone didn’t reply to an email, some issue never got resolved, sounds like everyday affair isn’t it? It can get upsetting sometimes and ruin the day too!
I am looking at the watch, an hour and a half to go, by this time I start thinking about my kids. Well let me call and find out how they are doing. The voice on the other side goes….. Hey he is doing great…. no issues….having lots of fun. Awesome! Great …I think and another mail pops up on my screen. Ok let me take care of this one…….
Wow, in a snapshot, we spend 75% of our day with people with whom we share no connection with. We have to be at our best, express anger, frustration etc. in a polite and professional way just so it doesn’t backfire! Say the right words with appropriate mannerisms, ask questions making sure we are not overstepping anyone’s territory. This all can get pretty exhausting. Oh it’s 5.00 pm, what? meeting now? Well, I will take this one over the phone, as I have to pick up the kids…..
This is pretty much the scenario for all working people. However, what amazes me is the fact that it doesn’t get over even after leaving work. They come home, talk about work,keep checking their blackberry, keep sending emails, think about fixing somebody over next day and even over the dinner it’s still work that they are talking about!!! However, it is understandable that work is pretty much people identify themselves with, but instead of being passionate about it they become obsessed! I know it can be intoxicating. But that’s where we have to draw the line. ….
To me, working people are the most self obsessed and self absorbed people around completely oblivious to the fact that there might be some in our life who just don't care to know what we did at work!!! We have a whole life to live with our friends and family who have nothing to do with what we are doing. My mom doesn’t care what is it that I accomplished today and did today, and I like that!! My kids still hang on to me after work and demand for things and I wonder don’t they understand I am tired, but why should they? This is rather a revelation for me that nothing really changes for people close to you whether you are working or not. We want to do it for our own satisfaction, and think that it will enhance our reputation in the eyes of the people. But realistically speaking the most wonderful thing is that: for the ones who really matter to us, we are still the same old people , and it doesn’t make any difference to them…....
I have learnt not be overly obsessed about work. During the time the economy slows down or there is even any downturn, the corporate world can be really brutal and devilish to the same old people who had forgotten about everything else in their life, woking hard , working late in the night, missing personal time , family time everything, in an endeavor to make someone else' dream come true. I got a call at my work couple of days back from someone to see if our organization was hiring; and I just casually happened to ask what his background was, and he said COO and VP of a manufacturing division!!!
I try to make sure I don’t bring my work home ever……at least not in my mind,not even talk about it. After it’s over, it’s my family my home, my yard, my garage everything else takes priority and I tune out my work life as if never existed until the next morning. I try not to miss any of my kid’s activities, try not telling my family that I am tired and can't do anything coz it’s not their fault, they don’t need to be penalized for my work. All magazines talk about spending quality time and I think it’s just fashionable to talk these days……. The family just need to be with us. We have to be the natural old self. If we keep stressing ourselves over telling a story, singing a song etc.. etc... and if for some reason are not able to do it then it causes more frustration and agony.
If we have the capability to be a professional and put on that garb every morning then, after coming home why not have the ability to shed it off too? Why keep stressing over it and keep talking the same stuff?
It’s just a means to an end……we can’t weave a life around it and miss having a life itself!!!
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